Australian UFO Bulletin - 1974 11 - November

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Australian U.F.O. Bulletin, published by the Victorian U.F.O. Research Society in November 1974, is a newsletter detailing recent UFO-related news, sightings, and research. The cover features the title prominently with the society's publication details and a handwritten date.

Society News and Announcements

The Society has acquired new central headquarters in Mid City, Melbourne, located on the twelfth floor of 100 Collins Street. These premises will be open to members on the second and fourth Friday nights of each month, starting November 8th and 22nd, from 7:30 p.m., with the library also open. The library boasts over four hundred titles of books and magazines on UFOs and related subjects. Due to the cost of publications, the Committee has decided to increase library fees to 25 cents for paperback editions and 50 cents for more expensive hard-back publications.

Annual elections for the Committee are scheduled for Friday, December 13th, at 8 p.m. in the National Mutual Theatrette. Positions to be filled include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Committee-men or women. Nominations must be signed by the candidate and proposer and reach the Secretary by Friday, November 29th.

Key Articles and Reports

The Pascagoula Case

Astronaut James McDivitt, known for his own UFO sightings during Gemini missions, interviewed Charles Hickson, one of the fishermen involved in the Pascagoula, Mississippi case. McDivitt contacted Hickson about a month after the incident where they reported being taken aboard a UFO. McDivitt stated on the NBC TV program "Today" on April 12, 1974, that he believed the fishermen had a real experience.

Odd Items of Interest

Flying Saucers to Become Official?

L.J. Lorenzen, international director of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation, predicts that the U.S. Defense Department will be forced to concede the existence of flying saucers within six months. He believes this is prompted by fears that another nation, possibly France, might publicly declare UFOs real, and by the growing public belief in flying saucers, which makes government denials lack credibility. Lorenzen also suggests new government evidence indicates UFO occupants mean no harm, and the Defense Department fears an "over act" by extraterrestrials to prove their existence. This has led the department to review its historic stance that UFOs exist only in the mind.

UFO Cover-Up "Dwarfs Watergate"

American nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman told a nationwide symposium that overwhelming evidence suggests Earth is under observation by extraterrestrials. He described the government's cover-up as dwarfing "Watergate" and stated that a "galactic federation of creatures" visit Earth, viewing it as "a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." They reportedly grab plant and soil samples and may take humans for breeding stock or specimens.

Still Unidentified!

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who has investigated more UFO reports than any other scientist, states that one-fifth of all reported sightings remain unidentified.

Radar Tracks "Ghosts" in the Pacific

Major Dallas van Hoose, spokesman at the U.S. Army's Huntsville missile base, confirmed that "unexplained aerial phenomena" were observed during a tracking exercise. Scientists privately suggest these "ghost ships" are inexplicable. The incident occurred during a Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile test from Vandenburg AFB towards the Kwajalein missile range. As the ICBM descended, radar scanners at Kwajalein and Meck islands, along with other systems, tracked an unidentified flying object alongside the nose cone. The object was described as inverted saucer-shaped, three meters high and twelve meters long, with a "fiery orange" glow. It exhibited a beam of light and moved in a peculiar manner before disappearing. Defense experts believe the object flew under its own power, but its nature remains unexplained. Experts do not believe it was a natural phenomenon.

Sightings

UFO's Strike Family

On September 16th, Mrs. Richards and her two children, Kathleen (5) and Jarine (8), experienced a terrifying event near Launceston, Australia. Their car lost power and all electrical systems failed after a bright light appeared in the sky. They heard jet-like roaring noises, felt painful electric shocks, and experienced overwhelming body vibrations. Mrs. Richards described the sensation as her head splitting open. The car's radiator was found empty the next day, though a mechanic found the car in perfect working order. Mrs. Richards has been ill since the experience.

Adventure with an Incredible Balloon

Two articles from the Wollongong Mercury (July 29-30, 1974) detail a sighting by three teenage girls near Camden, Australia. They described an unidentified flying object "as big as a house" hovering about 30 feet above them. The object was tracked by Sydney Airport radar. Sheryl Connolly described it as steel-colored with whirling white lights underneath. It reportedly dropped close to two girls before rising again, covering a 50-foot circle of shimmering light as it moved. Neighbors also reported hearing a noise. The RAAF was investigating, and an explanation later suggested a large balloon tracked from Sydney Airport that "disappeared" from radar and lost height over Camden before rising again.

Light Following Car Affects Motor

A RAAF representative is investigating a sighting near Wellington, Australia, on July 29th. A young couple, Ray Stockings and Cheryl Bennison, reported a flashing object that followed their car. When the object came nearer, the car's motor cut out, and later the gear box collapsed. The object was described as brighter than the moon and shone brightly.

Two See UFO on East Coast

Two men in Scamander, Tasmania, watched an object for 20 minutes offshore. It flashed green, pink, pale yellow, and blue lights and was bigger and brighter than any stars. It was not identified as a plane, and DCA confirmed no aircraft were in the area. TUFOIC has recorded 20 unexplained sightings in the northern part of Tasmania this year, with reports of UFOs trailing cars and causing frightening experiences.

UFO Sighted by a Local Family

Mr. and Mrs. Herb Slater and their son John, of New Norfolk, Tasmania, saw a UFO on September 7th. It appeared as a cigar-shaped body with a green light at one end and a white one at the other, with red lights on the sides. It hovered, moved up and down, and then disappeared into the clouds. The family heard a slight hum or whirring noise and experienced a giddy sensation.

Mystery Holes in the Ground

Mr. George Nauschutz discovered a circular depression about two meters in diameter and 30 cm. deep in a cultivated paddock near Jandowae, Queensland. Five smaller circular holes extended from the depression. Const. N.W. Beikoff of Jandowae noted a grey stain inside the depression, not matching local soil. Samples were taken, and a soil conservationist could offer no explanation. The holes were perfectly circular and changed direction underground.

Melbourne Artist Checks Up on Von Daniken

Lorraine White, a member of the art department at Melbourne's Emily McPherson College, visited Peru and Ecuador to investigate claims made by Erich von Daniken in his book "Gold of the Gods." She met Juan Moricz, who claimed von Daniken had never entered the tunnels he described. Moricz spoke of a "metal library" with ideographic inscriptions containing incredible information about human origins. White also viewed the Nazca plain in Peru from a light aircraft, noting drawings of three astronauts with helmets and sunrays.

Her Aim is to Contact a UFO

Mrs. Ursula Curran of Legana, Tasmania, expressed a strong desire to make contact with a UFO, stating she is convinced Earth is not the only planet with life. She and her husband Jeff witnessed a triangular-shaped UFO with round edges hover over a power station and then approach their car in Riverside. The object had two retractable skids and emitted a pulsating noise before heading south.

It Landed on Mt. Warrenheip

Three independent sources reported an unidentified flying object landing on Mt. Warrenheip, Victoria, around 8:15 p.m. on June 3rd. They described a cigar-shaped object with flashing green lights that descended slowly and landed on the summit. After several minutes, it rose and departed at high speed. A Courier reporter found no tracks or signs of disturbance.

UFO Illuminates Fishing Boat

Bowen fisherman Doug Nicolson reported seeing a UFO between Cape Upstart and Cape Bowling Green. The object, described as beautifully lit with flashing blue and white lights, flew directly towards him, illuminating his boat and the water. He timed it for 10 minutes and stated it was too low and too brilliantly lit to be an aircraft, and did not affect his compass.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin consistently reports on UFO sightings across Australia, emphasizing witness testimonies and the unexplained nature of these phenomena. There is a recurring theme of potential government acknowledgment or cover-up regarding UFOs, with references to U.S. and French officials. The society's stance appears to be one of open investigation and belief in the reality of the UFO phenomenon, encouraging members to share their experiences and contributing to the growing body of evidence. The editorial tone is informative and aims to document and disseminate UFO-related news within the community.